VIZ Media's Literary Imprint, "Haikasoru" Heads to 73rd Worldcon (Sasquan 2015)

VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT PARTICIPATES AT 73rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION AND WELCOMES AUTHOR TAIYO FUJII

Award Winning Japanese Author Of GENE MAPPER Comes To One Of The Longest Running Science Fiction Conventions

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced its participation at Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention. Haikasoru will welcome the acclaimed Japanese author Taiyo Fujii as a panel participant, and will host a retail booth (E4) in the main Dealer’s Room that will offer a wide variety of the imprint’s acclaimed titles at specially discounted prices.

Happening August 19th-23rd, 2015 in Spokane, WA, Sasquan 2015 is the site of the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention, also known as “Worldcon,” an annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans. Additional details are available at: www.worldcon.org and http://sasquan.org.

Taiyo Fujii will be featured in several events throughout the convention and participating in several panel discussions:

Thursday, August 20th

11:30am – 12:00pm    Taiyo Fujii Reading (Room 303B)

Join the author as he offers a personal reading of select passages from his works.

Friday, August 21st

11:00am – 11:45am    Self-Publishing – When To Do It, When To Publish
Traditionally (Room 401C)

Taiyo Fujii will be among the authors featured for a discussion of the whys and whens of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Saturday, August 22nd

11:00am – 11:45am    The Future of Publishing (Room Bays 111C)

The publishing industry has changed dramatically, moving away from traditional models to online sales, self-publishing and ebooks.  What could the next 20 years bring?

2:00pm – 2:45pm        Kaffe Klatche – Taiyo Fujii (Room 202B)

A special insightful discussion with the author on his work and creative process.

4:00pm – 4:45pm        SpoCon Presents – SubGenre Games
(Grand Ballroom: Salon III)

Are you deep for dystopia? Crazy for cyberpunk? Soft on steampunk? We're pitting ten sub-genres against each-other to see which should shed its "sub" prefix and become a fully-fledged genre alongside the towers of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Join author Taiyo Fujii and Haikasoru Editor Nick Mamatas for this unique forum.

5:00pm – 5:45pm        Seiun Awards & Publishing SF in Japan
(Grand Ballroom: Salon III)

Taiyo Fujii will join two other prominent Japanese authors for a discussion of the famous annual literary award and the process by which science fiction literature is published in Japan.

Taiyo Fujii is the author of the mystery thriller, GENE MAPPER, and won a 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan. GENE MAPPER was Fujii’s first novel and became Amazon Japan’s Number One Kindle bestseller of for 2012 when it was originally published. The novel was later revised and republished in both print and digitally in Japan as Gene Mapper – full build – by Hayakawa Publishing in 2013 and also was nominated for the Nihon SF Taisho Award and the Seiun Award. Fujii’s second novel, Orbital Cloud, won the 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award and also took first prize in the “Best SF of 2014” in SF Magazine. Fujii’s English-language short fiction debut, the novelette “Violation of the TrueNet Security Act” appeared in Lightspeed Magazine in July 2015.

During Sasquan 2015, Haikasoru will offer GENE MAPPER along with a wide variety of its other titles for purchase with special convention pricing. Titles to be offered will include: ALL YOU NEED IS KILL (the novel which inspired the 2014 blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow); BATTLE ROYALE REMASTERED and the BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK; GENE MAPPER; anthologies PHANTASM JAPAN and THE FUTURE IS JAPANESE (includes the Hugo Award-winning Ken Liu story, “Mono no Aware”); RED GIRLS and DENDERA.

For more information on GENE MAPPER and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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"Fantastic Beasts" Begins Shooting in England

Filming Gets Underway on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

Much-anticipated new film, written by wizarding world creator J.K. Rowling and being directed by David Yates, starts production in England

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated feature “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The all new adventure is set in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling in her best-selling Harry Potter books, which were adapted into the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

Filming started Monday, August 17, 2015, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” feature films.

Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) stars as Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent magizoologist, who stops in New York following his travels to find and document magical creatures.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” also stars Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) as Tina; Alison Sudol (“Dig,” “Transparent”) as Tina’s sister, Queenie; Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) as Jacob; Ezra Miller (“Trainwreck”) as Credence; two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (“In America,” “Sweet and Lowdown”) as Mary Lou; Jenn Murray (“Brooklyn”) as Chastity; young newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty; and Colin Farrell (“True Detective”) as Graves.

Marking the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, the script was inspired by her character Newt Scamander’s Hogwarts textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The film is being produced by David Heyman, producer of all eight of the blockbuster “Harry Potter” features; J.K. Rowling; Steve Kloves; and Lionel Wigram.

Collaborating with Yates behind the scenes are: Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (“A River Runs Through It,” the “Sherlock Holmes” movies), three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” films), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland”), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Tim Burke (“Gladiator,” the “Harry Potter” films), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”), and Yates’ longtime editor Mark Day (the last four “Harry Potter” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.

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"Pokemon The Series: XY Set 1" Now on DVD

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF POKÉMON THE SERIES: XY SET 1

Journey To A Stylish New Land For Dazzling Adventures In The Latest POKÉMON Anime Series Box Set Available On DVD Now

Exciting new Pokémon adventures await fans of all ages as VIZ Media announces the home media release of the latest anime series for the venerable franchise. Inspired by the new generation of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games, Pokémon THE SERIES: XY Set 1 is now available on DVD.

The 3-disc set, rated ‘TV-Y7,’ for viewers ages 7 and older, features Episodes 1-24 of the exciting new series and will carry an MSRP of $26.95 U.S. / $31.98 CAN.

Ash Ketchum’s journey continues in Pokémon the Series: XY as he arrives in the Kalos region, a land bursting with beauty; full of new Pokémon to be discovered! Setting his sights on the Kalos League, Ash is ready to battle and catch as many new Pokémon as possible. Along the way he will have to face the formidable Gym Leaders of this region and gain some exciting new insights into Pokémon Evolution. While he has new friends Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie at his side, there are also plenty of familiar faces and Pokémon along the way as Ash pursues his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master!

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. To-date more than 260 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 73 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. Pokémon THE SERIES: XY is the 17th season of the POKÉMON animated series and has aired in the U.S. on Cartoon Network. VIZ Media is the official North American publisher for POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES X & Y, POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: HEART/GOLD SOUL/SILVER, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE and distributes a wide variety of POKÉMON home media including animated series and feature films.

For more information on other Pokémon manga and anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

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Win a "Star Trek Beyond" Walk-On Role

STAR TREK BEYOND

Chris Pine and Idris Elba want you to be part of Star Trek history .  Win a walk-on role by donating to the Omaze campaign

Watch the video here:  https://youtu.be/DId-VOJmkYs

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VIZ Media Has New Content for Neon Alley, Including "Coppelion"

VIZ MEDIA CONTINUES SUMMER ANIME ACTION WITH A NEW CONTENT UPDATE FOR AUGUST FOR THE NEON ALLEY ANIME PLATFORM

Don’t Miss The Streaming Premiere Of New SAILOR MOON SUPER S And NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Episodes Along With COPPELION Complete Series And Just-Added KEKKAISHI And RANMA ½ Installments

VIZ Media continues the summertime anime fun with new content for its Neon Alley streaming platform throughout August.

Out of this world Sailor Guardian anime action continues all month long with a two subtitled SAILOR MOON episodes premiering each Monday, beginning with SAILOR MOON Episodes 128 & 129 as well as Episodes 130 & 131, which are available now. The newest episodes also mark the beginning of the epic fourth season of the legendary series.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN simulcasts also take place throughout August with subtitled streams of the latest action packed episodes straight from Japan every Thursday. Don’t miss the newly simulcast Episodes 422 & 423 on Hulu freshly added this week. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN action also continues on weekends with new dubbed installments available to stream each Saturday: Episodes 297 & 305, which are available now. Want to start from the beginning? Additional dubbed NARUTO action continues with the premiere of Episodes 168 to 179, which are available to stream now in their entirety.

The latest August 2015 update is further highlighted by additional new episodes from additional top-rated VIZ Media anime properties including:

COPPELION
·         Dive into the post-apocalyptic action and drama of COPPELION with the complete series (Episodes 1-13) now available to stream in its entirety with both subtitled and English dubbed options.

·         COPPELION takes place in the not-so-distant future as a catastrophic event has turned the old capital of Japan into a wasteland, forever changing the lives of its people. Decades later, three schoolgirls set foot into the now forsaken city. They are the Coppelion, genetically engineered humans created by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces to operate under the lethal conditions of the contaminated city. Trained since birth, the girls must use all of their skills and resources to carry out their one and only mission: to rescue those left behind.

KEKKAISHI
·         Join the supernatural action of KEKKAISHI with the streaming premiere of dub Episodes 14 to 26. (Episodes 1-26 are now available subtitled and English dubbed)

·         KEKKAISHI is based on a hit manga series created by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). Mystical forces are powerful in the region called Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi” – barrier masters – to guard the land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to the area night after night.

RANMA ½
·         Neon Alley viewers can watch dubbed Episodes 1 to 69 with the addition of Episodes 47 to 69 this month available to stream! This addition joins Episodes 1 to 161 subtitled with Japanese dialogue streaming now.

·         In RANMA ½, Ranma Saotome never thought a martial arts training mission to China would turn out like this! An accidental dunk in a cursed spring changes boy Ranma into a young girl, every time he is splashed with cold water. Hot water reverses the effect - but only until next time!

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. with over 3,700 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 32 series! Neon Alley also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on Hulu, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, PlayStation®4 (PS4™), Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu -enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com and http://blog.neonalley.com.

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Star Wars "Rogue One" Begins Principal Photography

Rogue One—The Daring Mission Has Begun: Cast and Crew Announced

Lucasfilm announced that their first film in the new standalone Star Wars stories series, Rogue One, has begun principal photography. Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Monsters) is directing Rogue One, which tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star. The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and is slated for a December 16, 2016 release.

The filmmakers have assembled a stellar cast, including Felicity Jones, nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in The Theory of Everything; Diego Luna, who was featured in 2008’s Oscar-winning Milk and 2013’s Elysium; Ben Mendelsohn, recently nominated for an Emmy for his leading role in Bloodline and co-starring in the upcoming Mississippi Grind; Donnie Yen, Hong Kong action star and martial artist who starred in Ip Man and Blade II; Jiang Wen, who co-wrote, produced , directed and starred in the award-winning Let the Bullets Fly and Devils on the Doorstep; Forest Whitaker, recently featured in the critically-acclaimed Lee Daniels’ The Butler and winner of an Academy Award for his leading role in 2006’s The Last King of Scotland; Mads Mikkelsen, who starred in The Hunt and was the memorable villain from 2006’s Casino Royale; Alan Tudyk, who plays a performance-capture character in Rogue One, stars in the soon-to-be-released Con Man series and Trumbo, which releases this November; and Riz Ahmed, who was recently featured in Nightcrawler and starred in the BAFTA-winning film Four Lions.

“Rogue One takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe,” says Kathleen Kennedy. “It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential Star Wars feel that fans have come to know. Gareth is such an innovative director and I’m so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he’s selected for ‘Rogue One.’”

Veteran ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll, who shares a long history with the Star Wars movies, dating back to the mid-1990s, originated the idea for the movie. Allison Shearmur (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Cinderella), John Knoll, Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds) are executive producers. Kiri Hart and John Swartz (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) are co-producers.

To create the lived-in, realistic feel of Rogue One, Edwards chose Greig Fraser (Zero Dark Thirty, Foxcatcher) to be his director of photography and Neil Corbould (Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan) to be his special effects supervisor. Star Wars and Lucasfilm veteran Doug Chiang (Star Wars: Episodes I-II, Forrest Gump) and Neil Lamont (supervising art director for the Harry Potter series, Edge of Tomorrow) will be the production designers. Additional crew members will include stunt coordinator Rob Inch (World War Z, Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger), creature effects supervisor Neal Scanlan (Prometheus) and co-costume designers Dave Crossman (costume supervisor for the Harry Potter series, Saving Private Ryan) and Glyn Dillon (costume concept artist for Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jupiter Ascending).

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Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow to Direct "Star Wars: Episode IX"

Colin Trevorrow to Direct Star Wars: Episode IX

Friday, August 18, 2015, at D23, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set for release in 2019.

While production won’t begin for a few years, Trevorrow is heading to Lucasfilm this year to begin working with artists and his fellow Star Wars directors. “Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw Safety Not Guaranteed,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of Jurassic World speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”

Trevorrow states “This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople. We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had—a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”

Star Wars: Episode IX will conclude the third trilogy of Star Wars movies that begins with Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18, 2015.

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